Cooling module and pair of adapters for module standardization

Abstract

In order to standardize the structure of a cooling module with and without a main radiator and thus to make a cooling module equally usable for motor vehicles with an internal combustion engine as well as with an electric motor and for hybrid vehicles it is provided to replace the bearing and holding function of a cooling component, in particular of the radiator unit flowed through by air and engine fluid of an internal combustion engine, by two adapter parts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cooling module for a motor vehicle, the cooling module comprising:
 a plurality of cooling components; 
 a plurality of frame components; and 
 a pair of fluid-conveyable adapters and a pair of non-fluid-conveyable adapters being alternatively interchangeable and arranged such that either the pair of fluid-conveyable adapters or the pair of non-fluid-conveyable adapters is arranged laterally on the cooling module, at least one cooling or frame component being attached in front of or behind the pair of fluid-conveyable or non-fluid-conveyable adapters free from play, 
 wherein the pairs of adapters are separable from all other components of the cooling module, and 
 wherein the at least one cooling or frame component, the pair of fluid-conveyable adapters and the pair of non-fluid conveyable adapters have the same attachment structures. 
 
     
     
       2. A motor vehicle comprising a cooling module according to  claim 1 , wherein a radiator unit that is configured to be flowed through by air and engine fluid of an internal combustion engine is held firmly between the two adapter elements, which are arranged laterally on the cooling module, of the pair of fluid-conveyable adapters. 
     
     
       3. An electric motor vehicle comprising a cooling module according to  claim 1 , wherein a free space is formed between the two adapter elements, which are arranged laterally on the cooling module, of the pair of non-fluid-conveyable adapters. 
     
     
       4. The cooling module according to  claim 1 , wherein a space is formed between the pair of non-fluid conveyable adapters, and wherein an entirety of the space is free. 
     
     
       5. A cooling module comprising:
 a first adapter element and a second adapter element holding cooling or frame components of a cooling module for a motor vehicle, 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element are disposed between at least one first cooling or frame component attached in front of the first and second adapter elements and at least one second cooling or frame component attached behind the first and second adapter elements, and 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element hold the first and second cooling or frame components directly in front of and behind the first adapter element and the second adapter element, 
 wherein an entirety of a space between the first adapter element and the second adapter element is free, the space being delimited by interlateral sides of the first adapter element and the second adapter element and by the at least one first cooling or frame component attached in front of the first and second adapter elements and the at least one second cooling or frame component attached behind the first and second adapter elements, and 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element comprise a reinforcing interior lattice structure configured to prevent fluid from flowing through the first adapter element and the second adapter element. 
 
     
     
       6. The cooling module according to  claim 5 , wherein each adapter element has fixing agents for attaching to a vehicle body. 
     
     
       7. The cooling module according to  claim 6 , wherein the fixing agents comprise pin connections. 
     
     
       8. The cooling module according to  claim 5 , wherein each adapter element is produced as a plastic injection part. 
     
     
       9. A method for converting cooling modules, the method comprising:
 disassembling a radiator unit that is configured to be flowed through by air and engine fluid from a cooling module; and 
 assembling a cooling module according to  claim 5  in a construction space left by the disassembly. 
 
     
     
       10. A cooling module comprising:
 a first adapter element and a second adapter element holding cooling or frame components of a cooling module for a motor vehicle, 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element are disposed between at least one first cooling frame component attached in front of the first and second adapter elements and at least one second cooling or frame component attached behind the first and second adapter elements, and 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element hold the first and second cooling or frame components directly in front of and behind the first adapter element and the second adapter element, 
 wherein an entirety of a space between the first adapter element and the second adapter element is free, the space being delimited by interlateral sides of the first adapter element and the second adapter element and by the at least one first cooling or frame component attached in front of the first and second adapter elements and the at least one second cooling or frame component attached behind the first and second adapter elements, and 
 wherein the first adapter element and the second adapter element comprise: 
 a reinforcing interior lattice structure configured to prevent fluid from flowing through the first adapter element and the second adapter element; and 
 shroud receptacles formed at each end of the first adapter element and the second adapter element, each shroud receptacle comprising:
 a reinforcing portion having a thickness greater than that of a remainder of the shroud receptacles; and 
 an elastically deformable bracket configured to hold a shroud within the shroud receptacles. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The cooling module according to  claim 10 , wherein each adapter element has fixing agents for attaching to a vehicle body. 
     
     
       12. The cooling module according to  claim 11 , wherein the fixing agents comprise pin connections. 
     
     
       13. The cooling module according to  claim 10 , wherein each adapter element is produced as a plastic injection part. 
     
     
       14. A method for converting cooling modules, the method comprising:
 disassembling a radiator unit that is configured to be flowed through by air and engine fluid from a cooling module; and 
 assembling a cooling module according to  claim 10  in a construction space left by the disassembly.